Bricks

My pastor just finished a series on faith and science. Fascinating stuff. One of those sermons was about technology. It referenced the amazing innovation in Genesis we know as the "brick."

We learned it was this magic building block that made the Tower of Babel possible. Tim taught us that God destroyed the famous tower because the builders were creating something for themselves, not for their God. You may remember that the mandate given Adam and Eve was to "fill the earth." But the motivation of the tower builders was to "keep us from being scattered." It was an act of defiance. You can hear their selfishness: "Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves."

For ourselves.

And that's when I knew... God has sometimes destroyed the tower of my making because I did it for myself, not for Him.

Ever happen to you?

How about in your family life? My wife and I find ourselves digging out of debt because we defied the teaching of God and, without even asking His opinion, spent money we didn't yet have. (Have I mentioned that having your tower destroyed can be painful? Our debt qualifies.)

How about in the worship ministry you lead? Or other ministry? Are you doing what Christ's love compels you to do or what your opinion compels you to do. One approach will endure. The other will be shattered by our great God.

What about in the church as a whole? Do you seek the face of God, the word of God, and the counsel of God? Or do you contribute from a position of personal preference, even in defiance to the wisdom of the scriptures? Do you have people around you who will tell you the difference?

Self-centered towers keep us from the staggering blessings of God that accompany obedience.

Has God sometimes destroyed your "tower" because you built it for yourself--even those around you--but you didn't build it for Him?

If not, hallelujah! Learn from my sinful heart and don't let it happen. If so, confess and receive grace. Let's do better in the future than we've done in the past.

One more thing from the story. God will get his way. He's God. He does that. The end of the story (Genesis 11:9) says, "In this way he scattered them all over the world." Our sin, our defiance, our stubbornness, and our selfishness will not thwart the plan of God. He's too big. Too wise.

Maybe this is why we should think about how to scatter all over the world more than how to build a kingdom in our own town.

Maybe.